What is it really like to be an NFU Mutual Agent?
At NFU Mutual we can offer you the opportunity to become a self-employed NFU Mutual Agent and run your own business. In this blog we are interviewing Tony Fields, an Agent who is based within our Hemel Hempstead agency to give you a real insight into the world of our Agents. If Tony’s experiences and views are what you are looking for, then please do click the link at the bottom of this blog to have a real conversation with a member of the NFU Mutual Agent Resourcing Team.
How long have you been an Agent?
I became an NFU Mutual Agent in March this year. After previously leading a Strategic Partnership Team for a Financial Services Business.
What aspect of being an Agent interested you the most before you applied?
It has always been my ambition to run my own business with the understanding and support of a well-known company like NFU Mutual. It just made everything feel like a great fit and the more I learned the more I couldn’t wait to get started.
Describe your first 3 months as an Agent?
First and foremost it was a great chance to spend quality time with my team. I also took the chance and visited high performing agencies as there are lots of fantastic success stories. It’s been a great chance to see how I can implement them into my business and make it an even bigger success.
Since then, what is the most important thing that you have learned about being an Agent?
I feel that there is a huge amount to learn about what the team in the agency are doing day to day. The more time that I have spent with them has been invaluable. It has been so nice and refreshing that I can build and plan for the future without the pressure of immediate results and I am truly the person who decides who successful I will be.
What does a typical day look like?
I am a bit of an early bird, so I like to start the day with some thinking time on my own in the agency. We have clients pop in for conversations in relation to their business or personal needs or I will go and visit them in their homes or business. This is also coupled with team meetings and of course a couple of curve balls to deal with makes every day different.
During your time as an agent, what would you say is your proudest moment?
I am most proud that my team are supportive and on board with changes that I have implemented within the agency. To get to this point, it involved a process of getting to know the teams’ individual thoughts and give them the chance for personal input to help contribute and build our plan which has been invaluable.
What characteristics and skills do you feel make a successful Agent?
NFU Mutual really believe in building long term relationships, with this approach once you gain an new account it is then about making sure they stay with you long term. It is about the management of a team and office as well as sales, so you must be able to do all three. You have to be really passionate about running your own business and be able to create your own strategies that will take your agency where you want it to go.
If you could give our readers five reasons to become an Agent, what would they be?
- You will get the chance to run your business, your destiny is in your own hands
- NFU Mutual really do care about its customers, its employees and its Agents and you have to be part of it to really experience and appreciate it
- NFU Mutual are very supportive there is lots of training and coaching available
- Future business leaders can grow their own business, fulfil career aspirations and ambitions
- NFU Mutual is always evolving and it is an exciting time to join.
